Apparatus for simultaneously transmitting a number of telegraphic messages over a single wire.



No. 7|4,630. Patented Nov. 25, I902.

J. ZIEGLER.

APPARATUS FOR SIMULTANEOUSLY TRANSMITTING A NUMBER OF TELEGBAPHIG MESSAGES OVER A SINGLE WIRE.

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J OSEF ZIEGLER, OF VIENNA, AUSTRIA-HUNGARY.

APPARATUS FOR SIMULTANEOUSLY TRANSMITTING A NUMBER OF TELEGRAPHIC MESSAGES OVER A SINGLE WIRE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 714,630, dated November 25, 1902.

Application filed May 29, 1900.

declare the following to bea full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to an improved arrangement for simultaneously transmitting a number of independent telegraphic messages over a single wire, the number of messages being capableof being doubled and quadruplicated by the well-known duplex and quadruplex system.

According to this invention I interpolate between the single line-wire and the various transmitting and receiving instruments an insulating-drum provided on its peripheral surface with metal or other suitable conducting-strips connected with the drum-shaft, which latter is constructed of conducting material. The number of contacts are arranged in such a manner with regard to the strips that when one contact is established all the others on the same drum are interrupted, while the insulated parts of the drum are arranged in such a manner that the closing and breaking of the circuit succeed each other so quickly that the current is rendered practically continuous for telegraphic purposes.

In order that my invention may be readily understood and carried into effect, I will describe the same fully with reference to the accompanying drawings, which show a diagram of my improved system.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view illustrating my invention; and Fig. 2, a side view, partly in section, of a rotary circuit-closing device embodying my invention.

Referring to the drawings, 3 is an insulating-drum interpolated between the line-wire 1 and one of the transmitters 2. The drum isfitted witha shaft 4, formed of material possessing high conductivity, and to which shaft the line-wire 1 is connected. Upon the Serial No. 18,453. (No model.)

periphery of said drum are provided a number-for example, twenty-of strips 5, of conducting materialas, for instance, metal and each of such strips is in electric connection with the shaft 4 by means of wires 6. A ring 7 (orrings) of insulating material are concentrically placed around the drum, and elastic contacts 8 in connection therewith are so arranged as to exert auniform pressure upon the drum 3. The said contacts may advantageously be in the form of rollers, small wheels, or brushes, so as to reduce wear to a minimum. To each contact Sis connected a wire 9, leading to a transmitter 2 or receiver 22, which is connected with the source of electricity 11 and the earth-line 12.

As has already been stated, it is necessary to so arrange the contacts 8 that when one of these latter is in contact with one of the metal strips 5 all the other contacts 8 shall be dis connected from the said strips 5, and this may be effected by so arranging the number of contacts in the ring 7 as to form a prime number relatively to the number of strips 5. The number of contacts 8, and consequently the number of instruments for a singleline, may be increased by adoptingseveral suchrings 7, all having the same number of contacts, but somewhat'displaced to each other. This mutual displacement or setting of the rings is effected by dividing the angle between two contacts in as many equal parts as there are rings 7 to be set, and each one is then placed in advance of the other by one of such divisions. The number of rings on the drum must be such that the number of contacts of all these rings is always a prime number relatively to the number of strips upon the drum.

At each receiving-station there is interpolated between the line-wire and the receiving instrument a similar drum, and these drums are caused to rotate synchronously and isochronously by any suitable synchronizing means, as will be fully understood by those skilled in the art, such mechanism not being shown or described in this application, as it forms no part of this invention. Thus when with the synchronously and isochronously rotated drum 3 the transmitter closes the circuit for transmitting a sign such closing of the circuit can only affect the receiver which receivers of other contacts. Obviously by this means as many telegrams may be simultaneously sent over one line as there are instruments connected with the drum. If, for example, five rings, each having seven contacts, are provided on a drum, it will be possible to employ one main line with thirty-five transmitters operating simultaneously, such number being doubled by means of the duplex system and quadruplicated to one hundred and forty by the quadruplex system in a well-known way.

The arrangement shown in the accompanying diagram comprises seven instruments at the station A, which may be of any convenient system and which are connected with the station B by a single-line wire.

As briefly stated hereinbefore, the drum 3 is composed of insulating material provided on its peripheral surface with twenty metal strips of conducting material. Each station is fitted with a similar drum, and each drum is rotated by a clock or other suitable mechanism 13, as shown in Fig. 2. The clock mechanisms at the two stations A and B must operate synchronously and isochronously in order to transmit to the drums 3 a perfectly uniform revolution. The shafts 4 of the drums are connected with the line-wire l in such a manner as to maintain the connection unaffected by the rotation of the drums.

If a signal is given by one of the instruments 2 at the station A, the current is caused to pass from the battery or the like 11 through the apparatus 2 to the corresponding contact 8, and to the same extent as the said contact is brought into contact with the strip 5 an impulse is transmitted through the line 1 to the drum at thereceiving-station. As the drums in these stations A and B revolve synchronously and isochronously it will be obvious that the receiver corresponding to the operating-transmitter closes the circuit through the contact 8 and one of the strips 5 in connection with the drum-shaft. In the same manner when several instruments 2 are simultaneously operated each transmitter is instantly placed in electrical connection withits corresponding receiver, and the various signs transmitted by theoperator are reproduced on the corresponding receiving instruments by reason of the synchronous and isochronous working of the two corresponding drums.

In the foregoing description it has been presumed that the drum and its ring are made of insulating material, whereby as the brushes pass onto the drum between the contact-strips 5 the circuits through such brushes will be interrupted and the current reduced to zero. fluctuation in the current and the sparking produced by the interruption of the circuits,

. the drum and its ring may, if desired, be made of material which is not an insulator,

In order to obviate such suddenbut yet which has a poor conductivity,'so that in this way the currents instead of being interrupted are reduced in amount when the corresponding brushes pass onto the drum between the contact-plates 5, this reduction being s'ufiicient to render the currents too weak to operate the'receiving instruments. As soon as the respective brushes come into contact with the contact-plates the current will be increased to an extent su flicient to operate the receiving instruments. In this way all sparking at the contact-plates and brushes is avoided.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is

1. In a system of multiplex telegraphy, the combination with a plurality of orbitallymovable electric contact devices in fixed relation to one another, and a plurality of stationary electric contact devices, distributed entirely around the orbit of themovable contact devices and arranged to engage said movable contact devices, of a plurality of circuits connected to the respective movable and stationary contact devices and arranged to be closed thereby, instruments included in said circuits, means 'for energizing the circuits, and means for moving the movable contact devices.

2. In a system of multiplex telegraphy, the combination, with a plurality of orbitallymovable signaling contact devices in fixed relation to one another,and a plurality of stationary signaling contact devices distributed ontirely around the orbit of the movable contact devices and arranged to engage the same, the number of. movable contact devices and the number of stationary contact devices being prime to each other, of a plurality of circuits connected to the respective movable and stationary contact devices and arrangedto be closed thereby, signaling instruments included in said circuits, means for energizing the circuits, and means for moving the movable contact devices.

3. In a system of mutiplex telegraphy, the combination with a plurality of orbitallymovable contact devices in fixed relation to one another, of a plurality of sets of stationary contact devices, each set having its individual contact devices distributed entirely around the orbit of the movable contact devices, the sets being arranged side by side, said stationary contact devices being arranged to engage the movable contact devices sem'att'm, a plurality of circuits connected to the respective movable and stationary contact devices and arranged to be closed thereby, instruments in said circuits, means for energizing the circuits, and means for moving the movable contact devices.

4. In a system of multiplex telegraphy, the combination, with a plurality of orbitallymovable contact devices in fixed relation to one another, and a plurality of stationary contact devices distributed entirely around the IQO orbit of the movable contact devices, and ar-,

ranged to engage said movable contact devices, of a line-wire having one terminal connectedto all of the movable contact devices,

aplurality of branch conductors each having one terminal connected to its respective stationary contact device, means for completing the connections between the other terminals of the branch conductors and the other terminals of the line-wire, whereby a plurality of circuits are produced,instruments included connected to the respective movable and stationary contact devices and arranged to be closed thereby, said circuits also including i y the material of different conductivity between the one set of contact devices, instruments included in said circuits, means for energizing the circuits, and means for moving the movable contact devices.

6. In a system of multiplex telegraphy, the combination, with a plurality of orbitallymovable contact devices, and a plurality of stationary contact devices arranged to engage the movable cont-act devices, of conductive material of different conductivity from the contact devices located between one set of contact devices and arranged to be engaged by the other set of contact devices, a plurality of circuits connected to the respective movable and stationary contact devices and arranged to be closed thereby, said circuits also including the material of different conductivity between the one set of contact devices,

instruments included in said circuits, means for energizing the circuits,and means for mov ing the movable contact devices.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOSEF ZIEGLER. Witnesses:

FRANZ REITER, ALVESTO S. I-IOGUE. 

